BACK TO THE ATL
At the end of season 3, we had left the protagonists of Atlanta on the other side of the Atlantic, in Europe. Building on the success of Al aka Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), the rapper and his friends embarked on an incredible tour, between social parties in London, bad trips in Amsterdam and cannibalistic adventures in Paris. For this season 4, back to square one… well, not really.
The four heroes are back in the “Big Peach”, but they no longer have anything to do with the idle thirtysomethings who smoked in an old abandoned sofa in the middle of a vacant lot. Al, at the height of his glory, begins to contemplate post-Paper Boi, Earn is a successful manager, still nervous but powerful and respected, Van seems appeased and Darius distracts him… Well, Darius remains Darius – and we expected no less.
We salute the evolution of the characters – a feat for this series with an elliptical narration, a bias that is truly unique in its genre – and we immerse ourselves with nostalgia in the return to the fold. It must be said that the European trip had made the series a little stranger… and badly named! This time, forget the postcard decorations, crossbred clichés of the Old Continent in the eyes of the Ricans, Donald Glover brings us back home.
This involves visiting typical places in the metropolis, from large shopping centers such as the Atlantic Station district or Lenox Square to fast food restaurants popular with Black Americans – the legendary Popeyes. It also goes through references to past episodes : the “faux-cumentaire” broadcast on the Black American Network, the centerpiece of B.A.N., one of the most significant episodes of the series (season 1, episode 7).
BAN, an absurd talk show to make C8 pale
THE TROLLER BROTHERS
For this final season, Atlanta never betrays its original promise: it’s still just as irreverent, absurd and magnificent. Irreverent first, because the series never abandons its viscerally committed subject: each episode is a fable on the living conditions and the systematic mistreatment of African-Americans. A real catharsis which, as always, comes more through yellow laughter than frank laughter. Absurd then, thanks to the still discontinuous, quasi-anthological narration, and to the episodes independent of the main plot, the “moments Black Mirror” (often directed by Donald Glover himself). This time, however, the screen time is more evenly distributed – season 3 had left far too many gray areas, especially on the course and the doubts of Van (played by Zazie Beetz).
Magnificent finally, because season 4 is also a cinematic gem. The direction of the main director, Hiro Murai, and its chiaroscuro games had given rise to masterful shots in previous seasons; season 4 marks continuity. She also recalls that Donald Glover and his team are past masters in the realization of the pastiche, whether it’s a mockumentary (him once more!) or even art… pictorial. The penultimate episode, which locks Paper Boi in the depths of the Georgian countryside, is an assumed tribute – it is in the title of the episode – to the painter Andrew Wyeth and to Christina’s World, one of his most famous works. It’s deep and it’s beautiful.
nature-painting
All in all, fans ofAtlanta will find themselves in these last episodes, very faithful to the rest of the series. But what can we conclude from the ending? After season 2, Donald Glover and his brother Stephen (one of the main writers of the series) hammered home that they weren’t ready to say goodbye to their characters like that, that a true final would come… eventually. In the end, it took four years. We certainly appreciate seeing Earn and his buddies accomplish themselves, become rich, regain power over their lives… but the end is not really one: like the previous seasons, the series ends on a kind of cliffhanger.
The watchword of this final episode: the dream. As Al, Earn, and Van go to a restaurant, Darius goes to a meditation center with floatation bubbles. This weekly moment of relaxation allows him to dream. Glover and his team then take us on a full-Inception with a dream, in a dream, in a dream… Darius is visited by people he has lost and always ends up waking up. Convinced that he is still dreaming, he ends up stealing a luxury car and taking his comrades for a ride.
The series ends at Al, Darius is watching TV and police sirens are heard. Is he still dreaming? Will the scene degenerate? Is the whole series a dream of Darius? No answer will be given openly… although that would explain a lot of nonsense.
One more look…
THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA
And 2020, Donald Glover tweet que “Atlanta seasons 3 and 4 will be among the greatest things made for television. Only The Sopranos can match us.” And the influence of Soprano is evident in this finale. During the very last scene, Hiro Murai’s camera stops on each of the protagonists, smiling, peaceful. The series ends with a final shot, that of Darius, who looks the camera straight in the eye, like Tony Soprano in his time. A nice tribute to a somewhat frustrating ending.
We will rather appreciate the meta subtext of this goodbye. Another parallel can be drawn between the viewer, who every week immerses himself in his bubble to watch the series, and Darius’ weekly relaxation sessions. The end credits song is regarding a “quiet place, a place where I find myself when I’m not feeling well”. This is what this series was supposed to represent. Glover and his friends offer us a poetic and complex finale, which will satisfy fans of open endings… and annoy all the others.
When you think too much regarding Atlanta ending
In a few years from now, what will be left ofAtlanta ? A beautiful tribute to the city and its culture, long despised by the cultural elites of New York or California. Whatever happens, the “capital of the Old South” is made to stay on our screens, big and small, for a long time. Much of the Hollywood industry has moved to Georgia – look at the number of American films with a peach at the end of the credits! – starting with some of the latest Marvel.
Can we say that the series is at the level of Soprano as the Glovers have been hammering for years? That might be overdoing it a bit. Basically, Donald Glover’s series will never become a popular classic. Too arty, too indie… and above all too disturbing! In such a fragmented American society, Atlanta is ultimately far too political. Nevertheless, it remains a superb series both in terms of writing and message as well as cinematography. It will only be a jewel for the initiates and it is very good like that.
Seasons 3 and 4 of Atlanta are available in full on OCS since December 2, 2022 in France
